Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program will be eligible to write the qualifying examinations for licensure as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (R.P.N.) with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (C.R.P.N.M.). As an R.P.N., graduates will be able to work in the fields of mental health and developmental habilitation with individuals, families, groups, and communities. As beginning practitioners they will be able to assume entry level leadership roles, apply research findings to psychiatric nursing practice, and facilitate promotion of mental health.

Significant changes in health care, and particularly in mental health, require that psychiatric nurses be educated to practice independently, or collaboratively as part of a clinical team. Employment opportunities exist in government agencies, health care facilities, correctional institutions, group homes, crisis units, personal care homes, addiction agencies, community services, and agencies for persons with developmental handicaps.

Employment rates for Registered Psychiatric Nurses over the last 10 years have been excellent with 98% of licensed R.P.N.s employed. In 1996 there were 6,000 R.P.N.s employed in Western Canada, including 1200 in Manitoba.

There are over 5,000 Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Canada, with approximately 1,000 RPNs practicing in Manitoba. Psychiatric Nursing is recognized as a distinct health care profession in Canada and many other countries – a profession that is growing and adapting to meet the changing needs of individuals, families, groups and communities as well as the health care system (refer to http://www.crpnm.mb.ca/psychiatric-nursing/).